Chapter Twelve: Sand, Booze and Babes

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Disclaimer: I think that we all know what I am going to write here, so I'm not going to write it this time.

Congrats to all the winners of my contest!  All were sharp enough to figure out the connection between Sheik's past and present! They will be featured as Gerudo women through out the next two chapters, along with all those who guessed. I have decided not to leave anyone out. I need the Gerudos. Thanx to all who guessed and tried! (Where were all the guys?? I wanted to make sexy carpenters out of them!! Lol!!)

Onward!

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Rae closed her eyes for a moment, revelling in the speed and thrill of riding a horse a full gallop. To her left, Link was riding on Epona, his golden blonde hair fluttering freely in the breeze. The pounding of the horse hooves echoed in the valley, startling the birds from their nests. Reigning in as they came to a narrow plank that served as a bridge, Rae arrived on the other side when Link had come to a full stop.

"What's wrong?" She came to a stop beside Link.

Link shook his head at the bridge in front of them. Or, rather, were the bridge used to be. Now there was only a large gap and a long drop into the river below. "We'll have to jump it."

"Jump it?!" Rae exclaimed, her hands tightening on Carina's reigns. "Please tell me that you're kidding me!!"

Link didn't say anything as he circled and went back a few good meters. He turned Epona and faced the broken bridge.

Rae gaped at him. "Link, you can't be serious! I've only jumped over short little fences, let alone a huge pitfall like that!" Her red-glazed eyes filled with panic. "Link, I will not jump that!"

The hero of time spurred Epona into a sudden gallop, thundering to the breach. Rae gawked at him as he drew closer, and was surprised when he yanked her out of the saddle on his way by. She yelped, landing hard in the saddle behind Link. She threw her arms around his midsection and closed her eyes as Epona suddenly lurched forward. They were suspended in mid-air for a moment, and Rae's heart nearly stopped as they landed on the other side of the valley. Link skidded to a stop, and Rae almost immediately jumped off of Epona.

"Bloody hell, Link!" She cried, trembling in rage. "What the fuck was that?" He slid out of the saddle, only to be confronted by a furious Rae. She pushed at his shoulder, and waved her hands in the air. "Snatching me out of the saddle? At full gallop? Going over a ravine? WHAT THE HELL???"

Link stepped back, blinking. "Sorry—I didn't think that—"

"That what?" Rae demanded. "What, Link? Whatever possessed you??"

He stared at her, his resolve crumpling. "I didn't mean—I'm sorry." He hung his head. "I wasn't---I thought…" His voice stuttered to a stop, cheeks flushing hotly. 

Rae looked at him, inner fire dimming. Damn him…he seems so innocent… She sighed, lightly touching his shoulder as she walked by him. There was a tent a few paces away. "Forget it. Let's see if anyone's home."

Link followed her meekly, suddenly toned down from the intense mood of a few minutes ago. They tapped on the tent flap that hung half open. "Hello?" Rae called.

"A visitor? Oh, do come in!" A warm voice beckoned them to enter. Rae and Link stepped inside, greeted with the warm glow of a fire, and the sight of cozy red/gold décor. "It's not everyday that I have the chance to have guests!"

"Not with the bridge being broken…" Rae quipped, bowing slightly to the man sitting on the rugs at the far end of the tent.

He scowled. "Ah. Yes, I guess that would be the reason." He puffed deeply on a lit pipe. "If my sons, were around, then I would be able to fix that…"

"Your sons?" Link asked.

He nodded. "All four of them decided that life as a carpenter was too hard, so they packed up and headed for the Gerudo's Fortress." He scoffed. "I, Mutoh, have never regretted that I took up my father's trade and kept the family business going. Never!" He pushed his chest out proudly. "But I do need my sons to help me…" He said thoughtfully.

Rae approached the man. "Do you need someone to go and find your sons for you?"

Mutoh shot her a strange look, a gleam appearing in his eye. "If such a person who would want to wander into the Fortress of the Thieves stood before me, perhaps…."

~*~*~*~

Link pulled Rae into a narrow notch in the wall, and they pressed together tightly as the Gerudo Guard passed by on her watch. For some strange reason, Rae had signed them on to go and rescue Mutoh's four sons. The reason why, was beyond him, but Link knew that she must have had a reason. This may have been a task that was detailed in her visions, he supposed.

To their misfortune, another guard intercepted the first, just outside of their hideaway, and they both stopped to talk for a while. At first, it was merely uncomfortable for Link, but it increasingly grew worse as he became more aware of all the places where he was in contact with Rae. Her hands were solid on his chest, the top of her head tucking neatly under his chin. Their bodies were pressed to one another, and the bare flesh of her arms seemed to scorch him, even through the sleeves of his shirt.

What is the matter with me? Link wondered as they escaped a long ten minutes later.  Why do I suddenly feel this way? He glanced over to Rae, who was peering around another corner, her staff held behind her back.  With the narrow weapon, she beckoned for him to follow her. He did, eyes half on the lookout and half on the young woman. She still wasn't completely at peace with him, after what had happened at the ravine. He couldn't blame her, however. What he did…

Whatever possessed you?

Link sighed quietly, edging down one side of the vine wall. What possessed him? He didn't know. All he knew was that when Rae had come to save him from the Shadow Beast in Kakariko, she was glowing with a light that was so pure and concentrated that he had thought that he was looking at one of the Goddesses. Then he realized who it was and knew that he had seen her soul. When Link woke up, and saw that she was laughing and joking around with Sheik, he felt a hot lava boil within him. He carried that with him to the Valley, and was rash and wild. He didn't mean to scare Rae. He just wanted to…well, prove something. He didn't know what, though. Just something.

Link and Rae came to a large room, lit brightly by torches on all the walls. A barred cell was on the right side, a large padlock clearly visible.

"Hey! You there! Can you help us?"

The two heroes went to the bars of the cage. Inside, half hidden in the shadows, were four men. The one who had called to them appeared to be the eldest, being the only one without a beard. The two dressed in deep velvet green were twins; identical faces peered back at Rae and Link. The last was the youngest, smaller and thinner than the other three, but just as well built. They were all dressed in simple clothing, wearing blue vests over colored shorts.

"Are you the sons of Mutoh the Carpenter?" Link asked quietly. Rae watched the doors for any sign of guards.

The one who was doing all the talking nodded eagerly. "Yes! I am Ichiro, eldest of my brothers. We all came to the Fortress in order to join up with the thieves here. We didn't want to be carpenters anymore."

One of the twins spoke up. "I, Shiro, and Jiro," he indicated his twin, "Heard that the Gerudos were all women." He grinned at Link, winking. "We wanted to be the only men here…"

Rae, listening, snorted.

The last of the carpenter brothers spoke. "Sabooro is my name. I didn't want to join, but I didn't want to be left behind either." He looked slightly embarrassed. "It's actually my fault that we were caught in the first place…"

Jiro shook his head, placing a hand on his younger sibling's shoulder. "They are professionals. They would have found us anyway."

Ichiro nodded in agreement. "Yes…I assume you were sent to rescue us?"

Link nodded. "Your father asked us to watch out for you. Do you know where the keys to the cell are?" The four men shook their heads.

"Link!" Rae said suddenly, one hand tugging on his shirtsleeve.

"What?" He turned. In the room, two Gerudo women were standing casually, double swords crossed in front of them.  One wore pale green, while the other donned faded tan. They didn't wear the normal garb of the guards.

The one in green broke the icy silence. "If you want to free these…men…" She said the words like it was a dirty swear. "…Then you must fight us first."

Link pulled the Master sword out of it's sheath, lifting his shield onto his right arm. Rae, already at attention, shifted her grip on her staff. Separating, Link circled the one in green, while Rae went after the one in tan. In perfect unison, the two Gerudos leapt forward, swords glinting in the torchlight. Link parried with his sword, but lost a lock of hair as the second sword came slicing past his head. Green smiled devilishly, her eyes flashing.

"Do not play games with us, man." She said threateningly. "We will not be taken lightly. She struck forward again, trying the same move as last time, but Link wasn't about to fall for it twice.

Rae, meanwhile, was facing Tan, armed with only a two-inch-thick pole. Tan swiped at her doubly, hissing in frustration as Rae dodged nimbly. In a last ditch attempt to keep her head on her shoulders, Rae slid under one of her opponent's arms and struck Tan's elbow as she came back up. One of the two swords fell from her hand, and Rae snatched it up and away. To try and use it herself would be foolhardy. Tan glared venomously at her, engaging a blurry slice that cut cleanly through Rae's pole. Rae's eyes widened, and she tossed the pieces aside, regret filling her. As Tan leapt forward again, Rae fell back, ducking under the sword thrust and tangling herself in Tan's legs. Tan lost hold of the other sword, and it skittered across the floor.

"Enough!" A voice commanded. Another Gerudo had entered the room. She wore much of the same garb that Tan and Green were wearing, except that she also bore gold ornamental gauntlets and anklets as well. Her long red hair was swept up into a jewel holder, and dark eyes watched out of a slender face.

Link backed away from where he had Green cowering in a corner, trapped by both of her own blades. Rae and Tan untangled themselves from where they had sprawled on the floor, trying to get the other in a headlock. The two Gerudo fighters gathered their weapons and went to stand before the newcomer.

"Allyx…"

"…Please, they were…"

"…Trying to free…"

"…The prisoners."

The other woman held up a hand, effectively silencing the two advanced guards. "Leave us." Tan and Green bowed and backed away, meek expressions on their faces. "As for you two…why are you here?"

Rae spoke before Link could. "We came to talk to Nabooru. On our way, a carpenter asked us to rescue his sons."

Link stared at her. Nabooru? Wasn't she a Gerudo Priestess? Second in command to Ganon? Why would they need to see her? 

Rae went on. "We have heard about the guild of the Gerudo Thieves. Rescuing the sons was just killing two birds with one stone. We wish to join you."

"But he is a man."

"He still bested what, if I am not mistaken, is one of your most skilled fighters."

Allyx smiled faintly, hands resting on her hips. "Fine. If you wish to prove yourself worthy of Gerudo Thieves membership, then go to the Training Grounds. If you are able to bring back the jewel of the dessert, than you will both be accepted as our own."

~*~*~*~

Link and Rae stepped into the training grounds, wary of what they were about to come face-to-face with. A cloaked woman met them there, her face and body hidden in the mass of the garment.

"I am Crys, the master trainer of the Gerudo. None leave here unless I see that they are fit to." The hooded head tilted upwards. "However, Allyx has given me specific orders as to what you are to do in order to pass approval." She indicated to two doors framed my massive lion's heads. The jaws were open, as if you were to walk into the belly of the beast. "One will go one way, and one the other. To get to the end, you must help one another."

Rae and Link shared a glance. They waited a moment, trying to determine whether or not Crys was finished. When it was clear that the woman would say no more, they separated and entered the doors.

Rae looked around. The room was empty. There was a door on the opposite end, but that was it. This is way too easy… She stepped forward. There was a loud creak, and the ceiling above began to descend.

"Rae! What's going on?" Link's voice was heard through the thin walls.

"The ceiling is falling in on me!"

"Is there a switch?"

"There's nothing!"

Link sighed inwardly. What had Rae gotten them into now? He looked around the room he was in. There was a row of signs on the opposite wall, each baring different messages. He read the first one.

Going back is easier than forward, but not when you must reach the hidden treasure hoard.

Then the second. When the sky does fall, and the end is near, to the other, the solution will appear.

Then the third. Trade your fates; find a key, and then forward to the drowsy sea.

Link blinked. What in Farore's name was that supposed to mean? The first was obvious, but the other two…

"Link!!"

Link squinted, aimlessly glancing about the room. Above the door that he had come in through, a small circle was imprinted in the wall. He went over to it and gently pushed it in. The grinding of the ceiling in the next room stopped.

"Rae?"

"It stopped! What did you do?"

Link opened his mouth to explain, but the same sound started up again. This time, it was overhead. His ceiling was falling instead.

"Link?"

"You need to find a key! My roof is caving in, now!"

Rae crawled on her hands and knees. There had been nothing in the room when she came in; where did they hide the key? Bumping her head on the roof, she glanced upwards. There, a few paces away, was a pushed out section in the shape of a circle. Scrambling to it, Rae pushed it. Nothing. She pulled, and it came off in her hand.

"It's stopped." Link said.

There was another grinding noise, and two small crawlspaces opened in each of the rooms. Link and Rae reported this to the other at the same time, and then went through.

They ended up in a room that separated the two heroes via a chain link fence. They met at the fence.

"Now what?" Link asked, glancing at the small pool at the opposite end of the room. "This is the 'drowsy sea.'" He told Rae of the signs.

Rae nodded thoughtfully, gazing at the waters. "I wonder why it's called that…" She squinted into the murky depths. "Are there passages in there?"

Link edged closer to the water. Indeed, there were dark tunnels under the water. Leaning close to the water, Link sniffed the steam rising from it. "This is Haerisha!"

"What?" Rae asked.

"Haerisha." Link looked at her. "A Gerudo drink. I'm pretty sure that it's very alcoholic." He smiled. "Drowsy Sea is right…"

"What do you mean by that?" Rae asked, dipping her hand into the water. It seemed fine to her; it wasn't like they were going to drink it or anything.

Link shrugged. "This stuff can knock out a fully grown Goron just by breathing it in!" He stepped away. "And now we have to swim through it."

Rae nodded. "I see what you're talking about." She thought about it for a minute. "Where's Navi?"

A blue swirl came into existence. "What do you want?" She said nastily to Rae.

"Can you go into the water?" Rae asked. "Take a look around and see how far the tunnels go?"

Navi made a noise that sounded like a sigh. "I suppose…" She flittered away, dipping into the water with a light plop. There was a five-minute wait before she reappeared again, fluttering in the air. "They lead to a dead end." She reported. "Other than that, there's nothing." She blipped out again, disappearing into the folds of Link's hat.

Link's forehead scrunched up in concentration. "Well. That kills what ideas we have."

"But why put the water here?" Rae mused, bending over to peer once more into the liquid. Her vision glittered, and a deep imprint suddenly appeared in the floor, in the shallow water. "Look!"

"At what?"

Digging into her pocket, Rae pulled out the small circle that she had carried in from the other room. She put it into the hole. There was an ominous click and it turned, merging again with the floor. Rae stood as the chain links vanished into the floor, and watched as a small shelf dropped down from the ceiling. It held a thick box that bore a dial with colors and symbols.

Link examined it critically. There were four colors in all; red, green, blue and amber. There were four symbols; a woman wearing a blindfold with a red eye drawn on it, another woman with hair of water, a third woman with a dress of vines, and a fourth with a handful of sand. There was an inscription as well.

"'To gain the treasure of the grounds, choose the Lady and her color. Choose wrong and suffer the consequences." Link read aloud. "Well, that's easy." He went to press the green square.

Rae's hand closed on his wrist. "Wait." She looked up at him. "Think about it for a moment. You're going to choose green and Farore, right?" Link nodded. "This is a Gerudo training ground. Who would they choose?"

Link's eyes widened. "Right…" He pressed the amber button, and the picture of the woman with the sand. There was a low whirring, and the box top popped open.

"Congratulations."

Link and Rae both spun at the same time, dually holding onto the bright blue jewel that was contained inside the box. Allyx and Crys stood at the door of the room. Both of them seemed to be pleased.

"Well done, Rae, Link." Allyx said grudgingly, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "You are now full fledged members of the Gerudo Thieves. There will be a feast held in your honour tonight." She paused, turning a ring on her hand forward. "Well met. You did far better than I thought you would."

Link spoke. "That's everyone's first mistake."

Allyx nodded respectfully. "You may keep the jewel. It is called Nayru's love."

~*~*~*~

Link stumbled down the darkened hallways of the fortress, humming lowly to himself as he drank from a ceramic flask. The Gerudo liquor inside was smooth and lightly tinted with an exotic flavour that Link found quite appealing. He had fallen for the drink on his first sip, and preceded to down quite a bit more before he even realized that it was alcoholic. It was a long while after that that he realised that it was Haerisha, the very substance that he almost had to swim through only hours before. A torch flickered on the walls, and Link found himself endlessly fascinated by the patterns that they made. A Gerudo found him standing in a corner, staring at the torchlight. She merely laughed and steered him back to the banquet.

The room was loud and noisy, and filled with brightly dressed women. If it weren't for the fact that Link had already drunk quite a lot of booze, he would have been overwhelmed.

"Hi." A woman in a dark navy dress said coyly, she tossed her dark hair over one shoulder.

"H'lo." Link said, his tongue thick in his mouth. She was quite pretty, really. Her eyes had a nice glitter to them. They sort of reminded him of jewels… "What's yo'r name?"

"Kalena."

"That's really pretty…" Link said honestly.

"Do you think I'm really pretty?"

"Ac'ually, I think ev'rything's really pretty, ri' now…"

"How…nice…" Kalena purred, drawing closer to him. Link hardly blinked as he felt her run her hands down his chest. There was no heat in the touch…nothing…not like with Rae…

"Now, now, Kalena. He is our guest."

The Gerudo jerked away at the voice. Allyx, the Gerudo in charge of the fortress, slinked out of the shadows and into view. Dressed for the occasion, she was stunning in a lofty scarlet dress and sparkling gold jewellery.

Link squinted owlishly at her. "You're really pretty."

Allyx patted him on the cheek. "Of course I am." She shot a glance at Kalena. "Excuse me while I steal Link away…" She turned sharply on one heel, and drew Link along with her. "Come along, now…"

"'kay…"

Allyx glanced at him. "I think that you've had quite enough festivities for one night. Come, I will show you where you can sleep without being bothered."

"Where's Rae?" Link stumbled, almost flying headfirst into a wall. Allyx snagged his tunic collar at the last second, and prevented this. She pushed him through a curtain and into a pile of pillows and silks.

"She has already retired." Allyx replied. "Do not worry about her. Get some rest." She paused at the doorway. "I'll see you in the morning, little fox."

Link grunted a reply, in an incomprehensible jumble, and the head thief left the room.

~*~*~*~

A masked figure met them at the entrance to the desert the next morning. It was Sheik, a long burnoose covering most of his navy bodysuit. 

Rae grinned. "Hey, Sheik. How you been?"

"As well as one can be in a desert." He replied with a half smile. His scarf was down as he talked to them. "The desert is a place of powerful magics. The Goddess of the Sands will permit only the strongest to travel to her temple." He pulled out his harp. "This is the Requiem of Spirit. Play it to return here, to the Gerudo Fortress. This will be the only warp song that will be successful in the desert sands. Not even the prelude of light will have power there. "

Link memorized the song, and the three of them stood in silence for a while.

"Well…" Rae started, shifting her grip on her staff. "I guess…we'd better be going…"

Sheik nodded, dark eyes on her. "Of course…good luck…to the both of you…" He hesitated. "Use your eyes while you are out there. There may be things hidden from sight." Stepping back a few paces, his lifted and dropped his arm in one swift motion. There was a flash of bright light and Rae and Link were left blinking away the dots in front of their eyes.

"What do you suppose he meant by that?" Link asked curiously. Rae shrugged, wondering if it was a reference to her newly acquired second-sight.

"Hey! You down there!"

Link and Rae looked up. A Gerudo was calling to them from atop the gate. She had auburn hair that hung in blue-brown eyes. A wide smile was on her face, and she waved down at the two heroes. "Are you wanting to go into the desert?"

"Yes!" Link called up to her. "Can you open the gate?"

She laughed. "Do you think you are tough enough to brave the Haunted Wasteland?" She shook a finger at them. "The Goddess will not let the weak survive out there."

"We must reach the Temple on the other side." Link informed her. "We need to speak with Nabooru."

The Gerudo raised a slender eyebrow in surprise. "Nabooru? Have you permission from Allyx?"

Rae nodded. "Yes. We have."

The guard whistled. "You must be quite the warriors to have Allyx's blessing to see the leader of our people. I will open the gates for you."

"Thank you." Rae and Link said in unison.

She shook her head. "But beware the trials of the sands. First you must cross the river of sand, and second you must follow the invisible guide to the other side."

"How are we to follow an indivisible guide?" Link asked in confusion.

She laughed, shrugging. "How am I to know? It is said that only the priestesses of the Sand Goddess can pass through the storm unharmed, but all others who dare to challenge the winds must obtain the eye of truth."

"Eye of truth?" Link repeated.

Rae smiled. "Thank you for the information. Would you please let us through now?"

The Gerudo stared down at her in amazement. "You still want to face the desert? Fine by me." She clapped her hands. There was a pause, and the gate started to slide open. "I know one who resides at the Desert Colossus. If you tell her that you are Sara's friend, she will give you shelter from the relentless winds."

Rae thanked her. "Where is the Desert Colossus?"

Sara smiled down at her. "After the River of Sand, but before the place of the Guiding Ghost. It is a small fortress. You cannot miss it."

Link and Rae waved good-bye as they started their trek into the desert. Sara watched them go, a bemused look on her face. "May the wild regions of the Goddess favour you, foolish travelers…"

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There ya go. Another chapter, just like I promised. J Sorry if the Gerudo training grounds was too quick. I just wanted a small little thing. *Ducks the rotten veggies* Yeah, and I'm sorry about the cheesiness of it all, too.

If you are reading this, and are about to press the review button with flames in your eyes, because you don't see someone remotely the same to whom you are, then wait until the next chapter. I originally had this as all one chapter, but it was getting too lengthy, so I sliced it in two pieces. Plus, I'm not done the second half yet.

Still working on it…

OracleVortex

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